Youth hockey board retains stricter penalty rules

Checking from behind, like the illegal hit that paralyzed Jack Jablonski last December, will continue to trigger an automatic 5-minute major penalty in Minnesota youth hockey for at least another year. The Star Tribune reports the board of Minnesota Hockey voted 18-6 on Sunday to continue the rule change that elevated the penalty from two minutes to five. An ad hoc committee recommended going back to the original penalty structure while stepping up "education and accountability" of coaches, game officials and players.

Checking from behind, like the illegal hit that paralyzed Jack Jablonski last December, will continue to trigger an automatic 5-minute major penalty in Minnesota youth hockey for at least another year. The Star Tribune reports the board of Minnesota Hockey voted 18-6 on Sunday to continue the rule change that elevated the penalty from two minutes to five. An ad hoc committee recommended going back to the original penalty structure while stepping up "education and accountability" of coaches, game officials and players.

Minnesota Hockey's board of directors is expected to vote Sunday whether to drop the tougher penalty structure that added more minutes for the most dangerous illegal hits. The rules were adopted soon after Jack Jablonski of Benilde-St. Margaret's was paralyzed by a check from behind. The Star Tribune reports the recommendation to undo the changes at the youth level stems from concerns the stiffer penalties take players off the ice for too long and hampers their ability to learn.

The Minnesota Hockey Board on Monday approved more severe penalties for youth hockey players who engage in risky moves like checking from behind and boarding. The rule changes come after a check from behind left Benilde-St. Margaret's hockey player Jack Jablonski paralyzed.

The Minnesota State High School League will begin imposing tougher penalties for three of the most dangerous hockey hits. This follows the illegal hit that paralyzed Benilde-St. Margaret's hockey player Jack Jablonski two weeks ago. Fox 9 also reports supporters are planning to honor the high school sophomore at next weekends U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.

The Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore continues to make progress following his paralyzing injury in late December. WCCO talked with captains from both the Benilde-St. Margaret's and Wayzata hockey teams about the devastating accident and the aftermath following Jablonski's injury.

MPR talks with Dr. Bill Roberts, a professor in family medicine at the University of Minnesota who did research decades ago that found most injuries in youth hockey followed illegal blows and checks, like the one that paralyzed Jack Jablonski. He says attention to the fact tends to wane over time but wonders if the recent rash of severe injuries will spur serious reforms.

Jack Jablonksi's mother says the 16-year-old athlete moved both his arms. The development offers some hope in an otherwise difficult situation. Jablonski was paralyzed after a check from behind slammed him into the boards during a hockey game.

Hockey Day Minnesota is a week from Saturday and this year's festivities will be even more special. The Minnesota Wild, FOX Sports North and Wells Fargo will be dedicating the day of hockey to the family of Jack Jablonski. The day will include an all-day telethon raising money for the Jablonskis.

The Minneapolis Hockey Association is hoping to get as many hockey players, ages four and up, to sign "Jack's Pledge." The goal is to get hockey players to commit to playing safe in tribute to 16-year-old Jack Jablonski, who was paralyzed after being checked from behind.